Understanding dawned on the neighbors' faces. They turned to me with open disgust, and one of them actually shoved me.
"They're about to get married! You're still chasing after someone else's husband? That makes you the other woman! You look decent enough—have some shame!"
"Exactly! Someone get a photo of her! Post it online!"
I laughed—a sharp, bitter sound—and slammed my suitcase down in front of them.
"Benjamin, why don't you tell them who the real other woman is?"
The suitcase popped open on impact. But Elise let out a shriek and crouched down.
Benjamin looked at her leg—at a red, swollen mark no bigger than a fingernail.
His expression changed instantly.
"Maud! When will you stop? Elise and I already have our marriage certificate! So tell me—who's the other woman here?"
I stared at him, stunned, and let out a hollow laugh. "Benjamin. This is what you call a fake marriage? You got the certificate and it's still fake?"
He realized his slip the moment the words left his mouth. Guilt flickered across his face before he deflected.
"All this over some worthless bracelet—you come here and assault people!"
"Maud, I never knew you could be this heartless. This selfish. This cold-blooded!"